Page 85 of Slide

“Well…” Her brother shoved a forkful of her pasta into his mouth. She shook her head. “No, really, it’s fine. Help yourself, Joe.”

He grinned and shoved in more. “This is delicious.”

Darcey jabbed him with her elbow. “Gross. Don’t talk with your mouth full.”

He straightened. “Gross?” Darcey chuckled as Joe popped his bottom lip out. “I’m wounded.”

Noah cracked up and shook his head. “She’s right. You’re totally gross, dude.”

Joe threw his balled-up napkin at Darcy’s little brother. “You traitor! Boys against girls remember!”

Darcey snorted. “Give Lucy back her dinner and stop being a pig.”

The three of them carried on teasing each other and laughing as if Lucy wasn’t even there. Wrapped up in each other. That’s the way it was supposed to be. She looked over at Hugh and Shay a little farther down, and they were just as bad. Hugh had a smile from ear to ear, while Shay playfully hit him on the arm. Going by the way Edna was cackling and Harold was blushing, Hugh had said something inappropriate, again.

Her family was happy. She’d wanted this for her brothers for so long. And, God, she was so damn thrilled for Hugh and Joe, but right then, she was actually feeling envious.

How messed up was that? Especially after everything they’d been through to find that happiness.

She glanced at her brothers again. And a jagged ball rolled around in the pit of her stomach. She hated that she missed Adam. That she missed that son of a bitch so much she ached.

Stop it, Lucy.

She would conquer this. She had to.

Slumping back in her seat, she glanced around the restaurant, and froze.

As if he’d been summoned, the man materialized, walking through Abella’s door. He stood across the room, dark gaze sliding to the back of the restaurant and locking onto hers.

Lucy’s breath caught in her throat just from the sight of him. He was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. His hair was sticking up a little, like he’d been running his hand through it, and he looked tired. No. He looked exhausted.

She hated that she still cared. She’d give anything to switch her emotions off. What was he doing there anyway? She sure as hell knew Hugh or Joe hadn’t invited him.

He started toward their table, expression intense, gaze still zeroed in on her. The closer he got, the faster her pulse raced. She felt glued to her seat, and when he reached her side and she stared up at him, the look on his face could only be described as determined. Fierce.

“Luce.”

Hugh stood up, chair scraping.

Adam ignored him. “I need to talk to you.”

“No,” Hugh growled.

Lucy turned to her brother, giving him a hard look. “Sit down, Hugh.”

Her brother’s jaw ticked, monster biceps bunching as he clenched and unclenched his fists. Shay grabbed his hand and yanked on it, and though he was still scowling, he obeyed his wife and sat down.

It was hard, but Lucy forced herself to look back at Adam.

“You’re going back to school,” he rasped before she could say a word.

“Yes.”

He lifted his hand and his fingers twitched before he dropped it again, like he’d been fighting the urge to touch her. “I’m happy for you. I mean it, so fucking happy you’re going to get to do what you’ve always wanted.”

An electric pulse fired up inside her, setting every nerve ending on high alert. That awareness, that heat pumping through her veins, was so familiar, so strong. She shoved it down and smothered it in anger—the only emotion she could deal with where Adam was concerned. “What do you want, Adam?”

“I know you said to stay away. I just…I need to tell you a few things. I need—”